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An egotistical man turned into a cursed spirit, Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen is an antagonist representing pure evil.
Entering the Culling Game arc in Jujutsu Kaisen, a lot of characters made their debut in the series. Among these characters, some made their way into the fans’ favorite lists, and the others straight into the hate bin. But before that arc, Jujutsu Kaisen introduces Naoya Zen’in. Being a part of the Zen’in clan, the youngest son of the clan head, Naoya had his ego unchecked. And, this is the journey of one of fans’ favorite villains.
What made him so popular and hateable simultaneously is the irony surrounding his story and the fact that he was a competent Jujutsu Sorcerer. Not only was he a part of the most revered clan in Jujutsu Kaisen, but he also held the title of a special grade 1 sorcerer. However, he truly didn’t hold back and showed his true colors right away in his introduction. Speaking of which, let’s get to how Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen plays out.
Naoya Zen’in’s Introduction in Jujutsu Kaisen
In the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Naoya first appeared in chapter 138, right where the second season of the anime ended. He immediately made his character known by spouting his radical point of view. He believed faithfully in Zen’in’s clan tradition of not allowing women to choose their own path. Right from the get-go, he made it clear that he would be a villain and Maki would be an adversary for fans’ favorite female character, Maki Zen’in.
As the son of Naobito Zen’in, he was certain his father would pick him over his older brothers to lead the clan. And with the death of Naobito, the will said that Naoya would be the rightful heir to the clan. However, there’s just one last catch. If Megumi Fushiguro was alive and well, then the clan should welcome him and be led by Megumi instead. So, Naoya set out to find him and assert what he wanted.
Naoya’s Background and Ties to the Zen’in Clan
Just from his introduction alone, it’s clear that Naoya got some ego running in his blood. Coupled with his antagonistic demeanor, his actual talent as a sorcerer made him a dangerous person to fight against. However, how did Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen become what he was in the story?
The Zen’in clan was revered not only because they were one of the big three clans but also because of their tradition. The clan still upheld a strict view on gender and put a high bar on their own members as Jujutsu Sorcerers. For instance, they ousted Toji, who had no cursed energy, though he became a dangerous fighter nonetheless.
Being surrounded by this type of environment and actually prevailing as a strong sorcerer, sure, it did build up certain tendencies in his personality. Also, seeing how Toji and Maki Zen’in defied the clan also strengthened his already misguided mindset. On top of that, he actually inherited one of the strongest cursed techniques among the clan.
Projection Sorcery, Naoya Zen’in’s Cursed Technique
If you’re a fan of animation, then you’d love the cursed technique possessed by Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen. He inherited the same cursed technique as his father, the Projection Sorcery. Basically, this cursed technique divides the user and anyone in their view, moving only in twenty-four frames per second. On top of that, the user can move in a set of pre-determined motions, follow the traces, and as a result, that particular move happens only in a second. Also, anyone who steps out of these boundaries will be frozen and unable to move.
This technique is simply a huge nod to the animation industry, especially when fans see it animated as Naobito performed it in the anime. Aside from that, it’s a hard-to-counter technique that grants the user free mobility while the enemy must adapt to it. Naoya particularly took pride in his skills in using the Projection Sorcery technique. It’s a part that made him a bit too arrogant when he fought against Maki later in the story.
Also, later in the story, Naoya Zen’in’s death in Jujutsu Kaisen led to his incarnation into a cursed spirit. In this form, he still retained his innate cursed technique. On top of that, his strength and overall physicality improved as a cursed spirit. What made him even scarier was that he got his domain expansion in this form, Time Cell Moon Palace. It enhanced his cursed technique and made it affect things on a cellular level.
Naoya Zen’in’s Fate and Death in Jujutsu Kaisen
There is a saying, “A good marksman may miss.” It’s also the case with Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen and his speed. No matter how fast his cursed technique made him, he eventually was struck down. Ironically, he got killed by two women even though he kept saying they were inferior in true Zen’in clan style. He was defeated by Maki when she went on a rampage on the Zen’in clan.
However, even though Maki gained a significant power boost thanks to Mai’s sacrifice, Naoya still underestimated her. And then, Naoya met his first death at the hands of Maki Zen’in’s mother, who stabbed her in the back.
Because he was killed not using cursed energy, he reincarnated into a cursed spirit. But, still, even after he died as a human, he learned nothing. In his rematch with Maki, Naoya still looked down on her. In their second fight, Maki managed to strike him from behind despite his domain expansion. However, he thought of his domain expansion too highly and failed to stop Maki from killing him.
Why Naoya Zen’in Is So Controversial?
What makes Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen so controversial is also what makes him memorable. As a character, he harbors a strong, skewed view of women, especially his cousins, Maki and Mai Zen’in. Partly because of the outdated Zen’in tradition, but also because he saw anyone weaker than him to be detestable. And, because he viewed women as supposed to be weaker, he became even more blind to seeing Maki’s potential.
On top of that, there is a certain dialogue that blew his notoriety among Jujutsu Kaisen fans. When he was fighting Maki in his cursed spirit form, what Naoya said implied a possibility that he had done foul things to Mai. As a character, Naoya Zen’in is how most authors would depict pure evil for the good guys to take down. Fittingly enough, Naoya’s downfall is extremely ironic considering he looked down on women so much, and the ones who took him down were all women. Gege Akutami outdid himself in making a great, pure evil villain.
Conclusion
Naoya Zen’in in Jujutsu Kaisen is a memorable antagonist. Despite the controversy he caused among the series’ fans, Naoya is a well-written character. Especially considering he is supposed to be the bad guy, Gege Akutami did a great feat in uniting almost every Jujutsu Kaisen fan to hate Naoya’s guts. The pure evil antagonist type, like Naoya, serves both as a great leverage for the protagonists and an obstacle for them to overcome.
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